Russian bank clampdown; more tech jobs; and German interest in Irish wind power

The Russian invasion of Ukraine dominates the coverage this morning, with western countries increasing pressure on Moscow over the weekend with a second round of sanctions. The internationally-held foreign reserves of Russia's central bank were the target to stop the bank using these assets to undermine broader sanctions. A number of Russian banks were also removed from the Swift global financial messaging system, that facilitates rapid cross-border payments and is crucial for international trade.

We also have an explainer online on just how the latest clampdown on Russia's ability to tap its foreign reserves could hobble Russia . . . hopefully without stopping the flow of much-needed gas supplies to the west.

The Kerryman leading Britain's leading oil and gas major, BP, has pointedly resigned from a high profile Russian institution. Bernard Looney has also agreed to lead BP out of Rosneft where it holds a 19.75 per cent stake at a possible cost to the company of €22 billion.

In his column, Eoin Burke-Kennedy argues that Putin's threat to weaponise energy has, to some degree, neutralised the West's response. He says the first wave of sanctions – on banks and oligarchs – were a paltry response to Russia's belligerence.

Ericsson’s decade of bribery and corruption in Iraq laid bare

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Sanctions on Russia prompt concern for Irish aircraft-lessors

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Germany signals interest in Ireland’s wind energy infrastructure

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Elon Musk and his brother under SEC investigation over share sales

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Meanwhile, back in Dublin, a former Putin ally, Dmitry Mazepin,is among several parties being sued over an alleged conspiracy to defraud the world's largest producer of ammonia of a €1.8 billion shareholding. Mary Carolan outlines a case which is back before the courts on Monday.

Away from Russian affairs, US-Israeli tech company Gong, which uses artificial intelligence to analyse customer data to help win more sales, is to create 80 jobs in Dublin. Charlie Taylor has the details.

And German interest in long-term investment in Ireland's wind energy infrastructure, with the goal of exporting power back to supply the German industrial sector, is emerging. Cliff Taylor writes that green hydrogen is seen by Germany as a key route to decarbonising.

A family-run Irish software business has struck a global e-invoicing deal with cybersecurity group Exclusive Networks that will see its technology expand into multiple new markets, and lead to 40 new job, reports Ciara O'Brien.

In World of Work, Emma Jacobs asks whether fertility is really a topic for the workplace as she comes across a law firm that has just appointed a fertility officer and against a background where a hard-driving work culture is leading many large companies to offer employees "benefits" like egg freezing.

Finally, as the European Union looks to improve its security of computer chip supply by easing state aid rules among other things, Trinity law professor Christopher McMahon argues the State should adopt a targeted and transparent subsidy policy to help it compete more effectively, boosting employment and the economy.

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